Lets take injuries and fatalities seriously...
First and foremost, we need to establish that in the UK we have a comparatively low level of workplace fatalities. This however does not mean its acceptable and we should not simply disregard it when making business decisions regarding health and safety. The very reason its low compared to other countries is our fantastic regulation and legislation surrounding HSE.
The latest figures from HSE in the UK (2022/23) are 135 people unfortunately lost their life in the workplace, with the majority happening as a result of working from height! – This is one very important piece of information to take from this article when making safety decisions, if nothing else.
If we delve a little deeper into the figures released from HSE UK, there were 561,000 non-fatal injuries. Only 8% of these are due to falls from height, so what does this mean exactly? While it does mean working from height isn’t a leading injury in the workplace, it also doesn’t take a genius to realise that if you do have a workplace accident involving a fall from height it can very easily lead to a fatality much quicker than other types of accidents.
You might well be thinking, these falls from height statistics could very well be from non-ladder usage. However, within the food and drink sector alone it is reported that 40% of working at height injuries are from ladders, more than twice the next leading cause.
What does the HSE say about working from height…
I want to take this moment to dispel a long standing myth and we are quite unsure where it came from in the first place; But I thought ladders are not allowed or are banned in the workplace. It might well be a common theme among disgruntled employees across the UK who are having to use ladders and steps that may be unsafe, or where there are better options to achieve a task, as a reason for this myth coming to such a prominence in the workplace canteen discussions and among the ‘I know somethings’.
HSE in fact has a very simple and straightforward guidance on this, stating clearly that “The law calls for a sensible, proportionate approach to managing risk, and ladders can be a sensible and practical option for low-risk, short-duration tasks, although they should not automatically be your first choice.”
There are three important things we should consider as a business leader when deciding about ladders, and in this very order:
- When to use a ladder at work.
- Know how to use a ladder safely.
- Using the correct ladder.
The reason it should be done in this order becomes clear when we imagine the scenario in our workplace. For example, in a warehouse where we have pallet racking and product stored across multiple levels, a contractor who is fully trained in ladder use may decide that they will use a ladder to work on some lighting or other electrical component that they couldn’t normally reach from the ground. They decide to use an A frame ladder or even a telescopic ladder and have to do this maintenance task for over an hour at a time across the site. While it might well be the correct ladder (number 3 on our list), it however is not the correct decision to use a ladder and possibly should have used a cherry picker, extending platform or other piece of safer equipment.
There should have always been an assessment of risk for carrying out a task. It is this assessment which will determine if a ladder should be used or other safer approach.
Quick recap - FAQ's
How many workplace deaths happen in the UK each year?
According to the latest figures from HSE UK for the year 2022/23 there was 135 workplace fatalities
How many workplace deaths are caused as a result of falls from height?
Of the 135 workplace fatalities, 40 of these are as a result of falls from height
How many workplace accidents and/or injuries happen in the UK?
561,000 workplace injuries were sustained in the UK according to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey in 2022/23
Are ladders illegal or banned in the UK workplace?
No! – This is a common myth we keep hearing, and ladders absolutely have their place to be used correctly
Should I use ladders in the workplace?
Ladders can be used for work at height when an assessment of the risk has been carried out, and shown that they are justified in their use.
Where can I find more information about ladder safety?
You can see the HSE information on this for absolute clarity here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/ladders/index.htm
Are the ladders from HSE Store safe?
Absolutely – All of our ladders conform to HSE regulations, marked clearly and have the manufacturers instructions available.
Further Reading
See our other knowledge base articles on the types of ladders available, how to check their safety and how to use them correctly.
